The public health approach is a four-step cycle that Dr. Emmy Betz explains. It begins with analyzing data to understand who is being injured or killed and why. This step involves identifying if the harm is coming from suicide, mass shootings, or youth violence in the community.
Once this information has been gathered, the next step is to pinpoint strategies that can prevent these injuries and deaths. It is important to recognize that what works in one location may not work in another, so interventions must be tailored to specific communities.
Implementing effective strategies on a larger scale is also a key component of the public health approach. This means taking successful programs and expanding them to reach more people. The goal is to increase the impact of these interventions and reduce harm in a more widespread manner. By utilizing this approach, we can address the gaps in knowledge and determine where funding should be allocated.
Solving complex issues like violence requires a variety of solutions, but the public health framework provides a systematic way to approach the problem.
